Pages

Monday, May 26, 2014

My earliest memory of Memorial Day
was going to the cemetery to place flowers on graves. It always made me feel
just a little bit weird to realize that in the ground beneath my feet lay all
that remained of a human body. Since I didn’t have x-ray vision, I imagined
that mummified bodies lay in air-tight coffins. When we visited the old
cemeteries where some of the graves were sunken, I carefully avoided those
areas fearful that I might fall through.

I always noticed the American flags,
but most of the graves we visited were family and not necessarily military. Sometimes
we would run into other family members who were placing plastic floral
arrangements on graves. Then, it was a time to enjoy seeing the living.

It seems it was usually hot, and
shade is hard to come by in most cemeteries. Often a table is set up where you
could make donations for the upkeep. Nobody likes to see overgrown brushy
cemeteries. The old cemetery where my great-grandparents are buried is usually
cleared by family members. I saw some people on Facebook planning a time to
work on it since it wasn’t done this year.

Most people celebrate life on
Memorial Weekend with picnics. The red, white, and blue is the only thing that
says Memorial Day more than grilled hotdogs and hamburgers.

For the last nine years I have
visited the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville for their Memorial Day
Services. Although several artificial arrangements will be placed on graves,
the cemetery rules call for cut flowers. Flowers are usually easy to find, but it is a challenge to find a plastic (unbreakable)
vase to put them in. This year, I lucked out. I bought a dozen roses and found
a clear plastic container. I decorated it with patriotic duck tape and with
some red ribbon. I always like to put Jim’s name on the arrangement I take, but
this year it suddenly occurred to me to put his picture too. I printed out a
shipping label, covered it with clear packing tape. I was pleased with the
results.

This year, my sister-in-law Ginger
and my great-niece made the trip with me. We stopped at McDonald’s and arrived
at the cemetery a mere twenty minutes before the scheduled start time. We were
directed to park near the new columbarium. We followed the sidewalk, crossed
the bridge, and made it to the original columbarium just in time for the
services to begin. The special guest speaker, Senator David Pearce, talked
about how families had put special inscriptions on the stones. He began to read
a few of them and one was “Rest High on That Mountain”—Jim’s stone.

Mayor Bill Kolas, Higginsville,
spoke about how the traditions of Memorial Day has changed. Memorial Day used
to be the signal that it was okay to wear white shoes. Of course, in today’s
world, we wear white shoes when we feel like it. Instead of being “Decoration
Day” to honor the fallen, for some people it’s all about picnics and sports. He
talked about how school children no longer learn the history of World War I, or
World War II—how they’ve never learned about Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Iwo Jima,
Okinawa—because text book companies have left them out. This lack of history,
he said, included governments. When President Charles DeGaulle demanded that
all U.S. troops be evacuated off French soil, President Johnson directed
Secretary of State Rusk to ask if that included the American soldiers buried
there.

I was able to walk along the side
and placed the roses in front of Jim’s niche during the ceremony. I stood
beneath the shade of my umbrella for the remainder of the program. When the
speakers were finished, the rifle volley and “Taps” reminded us more than words
of the veteran’s sacrifices for the good of the country, for our freedom.

It was a lovely service in a
beautiful cemetery that honors our Missouri Veterans. Flags from the branches
of service, the POW flag, the Missouri State Flag, and Old Glory flapped in the
breeze, keeping watch over the veterans. As the crowd began to clear, peace blanketed
the cemetery.

Monday, May 19, 2014

It seems that no matter what you
want to do, someone will remind you, “There’s an app for that,” and sure enough
there is. Often it is things you don’t even think about. “How did you tie that
scarf?” There’s an app for that. Apple owns the trademark for the slogan, but
it now pops up in everyday language.

It has become a running joke that
apps can make the difficult easy. They provide quick, simple solutions. We now
have an “app generation” that knows they can click on an icon and have the
knowhow that used to be passed from generation to generation. They take for
granted having the world at their fingertips, a world that we couldn’t even
imagine when we were kids.

As personal electronic devices
become easier and more user friendly, we boomers have come to embrace the
wonderful world of technology. What we have learned is something that younger
generations have always had. We went through years of schooling without spell
check, grammar check, the ability to just back up to erase the typed word, no
Google search for research papers, rotary telephones plugged into a wall that
served one purpose—conversation, and no concept of what an “app” was, or that
it would ever exist.

Even those of us boomers with wild
imaginations didn’t foresee the day when school kids would be walking around
with text books on a slim device. And the thought of being in constant
communication with our parents would have probably seemed more like a nightmare
than a desired condition. Our parents were parents—not our best friends.

Now that we boomers are reaching the
age when we are most vulnerable to Alzheimer’s, the brave new world has come up
with a possible solution—maybe, just maybe, there is, or will be, an app for
people with dementia.

I read an article this morning about
Apple and Google technology helping fight Alzheimer’s disease. The article
spoke of tests and treatments disguised as games. Wrist watches and eye glasses
that could be used for GPS tracking, facial recognition, and help with daily
living.

Maybe more research should go into developing
smart phones, or other electronic devices, specifically for people with dementia,
especially those who are in early stages. Devices would need to be easy to keep
track of, super easy to use with voice activated apps, and pictures.

Think about the problems that people
in the early stages of dementia have—they forget appointments, forget to take
medication, get lost, have trouble communicating, and trouble problem solving. Well,
I know for a fact that I’ve used my smart phone to solve the first three
problems on that list. I’m not too likely to forget appointments when my smart
phone reminds me. I had trouble remembering to take my morning medication until
I put a reminder on my phone. Getting lost is not an option with GPS on my
phone. Wouldn’t it be easier for the memory impaired to communicate if they
could see the person they were talking to instead of just hearing them? After
all, words are only seven percent of our communication with each other. Facial
expressions are included in body language and account for 55 percent. We’ve
already discussed that there’s an app for solving a myriad of problems.

Why not have Medicare dollars pay
for technology to enhance independent ability rather than drugs that cause side
effects and often diminish alertness? Not only can technology help now, it will
be even more beneficial for future generations who have technology entrenched
in their long-term memories.

Monday, May 12, 2014

I used to think that older/retired
people didn’t need much sleep. Seemed like after years of forcing themselves
out of bed during their working years, they found themselves jumping out of bed
at sunrise just because that’s when they felt like getting up. When you think
about it, that works well for someone who goes to bed early. If you have your
eight hours of shut-eye in by daylight, you are going to want to jump up and
start the day early.

Then there’s those like me who stay
up until midnight. A full night’s sleep will still get me out of bed by eight
and that’s plenty early. What I don’t like is when I wake up in the middle of
the night and can’t go back to sleep. Last night, I woke up at about three
thirty. I tossed, turned, and tried to go back to sleep. No luck. Then, when I
thought it might happen, my weather alert radio went off. I dragged my sleepy
self to the kitchen to turn it off. I pushed the button that tells what the
alert is, and it started giving a regular forecast. I didn’t hear anything
resembling weather that warranted the alarm.

Back in bed, I couldn’t help but
think there should have been a reason for the bells and whistles disturbing my peace. Well, with my smart phone,
I normally receive weather alerts on Facebook and via email, not to mention radar, and
Google news. I debated. Browsing the Internet tends to keep me awake, but
better safe than sorry, right? Okay, curiosity won.

First email. No alert. Then,
Facebook. Oh geeze, couldn’t help but look at all the old photos posted for
Mother’s Day. They just went on, and on. Time passed. It was soon four thirty, and I was wide awake. Still, determined to sleep awhile longer, I put down the phone and resumed tossing and turning, mind churning.

In the still of the night, I started
thinking about how seemingly insignificant decisions or events changed the
entire course of my life. I thought about the chain of events that led up to
meeting Jim… On a summer Saturday, my mom and I were in the Dew Drop Inn eating
hamburgers and fries when Kenny Fisher walked in. My mom knew him and
introduced me. A week later, Kenny, “Uncle Orvie,” introduced me to his nephew.
In many ways, it was a random meeting on an otherwise uneventful day in a
series of uneventful days. Yet, that chance meeting changed the course of my
life.

Sometimes the randomness of life
scares me. The thought that if I do this, or don’t do that, it can change my
destiny for better or worse. My life sometimes seems out of control, careening
through time and space, heading toward that final frontier.

I’ve always had
this insatiable curiosity as to what makes me, me. Why are my thoughts, fears,
joys and sorrows, and life’s experiences inside this particular body, living
this unique life, in this specific place?

In opposition to the scary thought
of where the path of life is taking me is the comfort of what I consider to be
my master plan. This isn’t just based on my decisions, but on my destiny. This
isn’t to say that I don’t think my decisions are important anymore, in fact, I
think they are crucial. But somehow, it seems that when I reach a crossroad, I
choose the path that is right for me.

All my heavy thinking didn’t help me
go back to sleep. So, just like other “older” people I used to shake my head at, I
was up before dawn. A few cups of coffee, and I was good to go.

I wonder if today will bring one of
those life changing decisions, or will it be merely another forgettable day? I
may not know that answer for years—or I may know it by sundown.

Whatever the day brings, I’m
confident it will fit into my master plan.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

April was a busy month and the first
week of May was more of the same. On May Day, I went to the Lodge of the Four
Seasons to spend time with some of the most inspiring women I have ever had the
pleasure to add to my circle of friends. Business Women of Missouri are focused
on improving life for all women, but especially those who are struggling. I am
proud to be part of a group that focuses on legislation to help women,
scholarships, collecting personal care products for women’s shelters…everywhere
you looked, women shared ideas, hugs, and helping hands.

My friend, Nancy, has served as the state
president for the past year. As part of Nancy’s team, I learned just how
complex planning a conference can be. Fortunately, we had capable leaders who
were able to crunch the numbers to find that, indeed, we could meet our
obligation. They dared to break the mold and try some new ideas. Because of
this, our Saturday morning program included two dynamic, and inspiring,
speakers.

Nancy finished her term as president
and turn the reins over to Sherry whose theme is “Dare to Inspire and to Be
Inspired.” Inspiration—the word comes from the same Latin root word as
respiration, spirare, which means “to breathe.”
Inspiration makes me feel alive.

Today has been both a sad day and an
inspiring day. This morning, the sun was shining and a breeze provided a
perfect day for being outdoors. The day started with setting tomato and pepper
plants into the earth, with the promise of fresh produce later in the summer.

It was still early when I headed
toward Versailles to a memorial for a lovely lady who left this earth too soon.
Loretta had asked two family members to speak at her services. Both spoke of
how inspiring and life-changing their relationship with Loretta had been. There’s
no better legacy to leave than to be a positive influence on others.

Afterwards, my mom, sister, brother,
and sister-in-law went out to lunch. As is typical in a small town, the place
was filled with people we knew. When my aunt and uncle came in, we squeezed
together to make room at the table for them. The conversation was lively,
filled with humor. I was sitting at a table with people who inspire me. Then,
more cousins/aunts (our family is complicated because my dad’s cousins married
my mom’s brothers). It was heartening to spend some time with people I’ve known
my entire life. Inspiring.

My day ended with board members of our
local Business Women’s Club. Once again, I sat at a table with caring women whom
I admire and am inspired by. These women give generously of their time and
talents.

As we said our goodbyes, shared hugs
and encouragement, I walked out of the restaurant thinking I would jump in my
car and head home. It had been a long day. Instead, I decided to walk across
the street and look at the veteran’s bricks I had purchased in honor of Jim and
my dad.

The evening breeze whipped the
eternal flame. Suddenly, I realized how beautiful the evening, and how
inspiring the tributes to those who dared to lay their lives on the line for our
country. The names on memorials and the rows of bricks were evidence of
sacrifice and commitment. I wandered down the sidewalk reading the names. I saw
one inscribed with a date when a life was lost in the Philippines. Sad, but
inspiring.

I walked around snapping pictures of
this familiar landmark, that had suddenly taken on a special atmosphere. I was
the only person on the courthouse lawn. Had that ever happened before? What a perfect
evening. What a great day to be alive, and appreciate those who died so that I
could walk around the courthouse on a peaceful May evening. The breeze, the
very breath of inspiration, ruffled my
hair, caressed my skin, and filled my heart with hope and happiness, as I dared
to be inspired.

One of Healthline's Top 20 Alzheimer's Blogs

Follow by Email

Third Place in the 2013 Contest!

One of Healthline's Top Blogs

Voted one of Healthline's top blogs of 2012--4th Place in the Contest

Early Onset Blog in Top 25 2011 Alzheimer's Blogs - Healthline.com

Early Onset Alzheimer’s

This award-winning blog is a must-read for individuals experiencing early-onset Alzheimer’s. Less common than standard age-related dementias, early onset Alzheimer’s is virtually always a surprise to diagnosed individuals. Linda Fisher, blogger and author, knows the difficulty of this condition firsthand.

In her Early Onset Alzheimer’s blog, she teaches readers not just how to manage such a frightening condition, but also how to live life to the fullest. Her passion for helping others – showing everyone that life with Alzheimer’s is worth living – is a tremendous gift. Thank you, Linda!

Blog Awards

Early Onset Blog has received several blog awards. Due to new Google regulations, the links had to be removed. Past awards have included the #1 Health Blog , Top 10 blog in 2010, Top 25 Blog award in 2010, and a Top 50 award in 2012. We appreciate the recognition, but also understand the need to remove the links.

I went to sleep around midnight and woke up at 4:00 a.m. I tossed, turned, read, tossed, turned, and read some more. Finally more than t...

Linda's Blog Books

Books are a print version of Linda's award-winning Blog. These books are published for the benefit of those without Internet access or who just prefer to curl up with a book rather than browsing online. If you enjoy Linda's blog posts, you might want to purchase the book for a friend or family member.

Fisher began her online journal to share her experiences with families affected by early onset dementia. Her essays provide insight into family life often from a humorous viewpoint. She writes from her experiences as a longtime Alzheimer's Association volunteer and advocate and ten years as a primary caregiver for her husband, Jim.

Early Onset Blog

Alzheimer's Anthology of Unconditional Love by L. S. Fisher

The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation

I have participated in a link exchange with the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation. They have this blog http://earlyonset.blogspot.com/ listed in their Alzheimer's blogs.

Lindsay Nason wrote about my Early Onset Blog: "I want to thank you for sharing your powerful experience and your creative suggestions with others. . . . Your blog offers a unique and personal insight into this disease, which can be such a comfort to other members of the Alzheimer's community."

Thank you, Lindsay, for your kind words and for including the Early Onset Blog on your website.